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I am going
to talk about football.But hang with me
because I am only going to do it for like a minute and then I am going to get
to the good stuff…

Just stay
with me for a moment.

So anyone
who actually knows me in real life knows that I am a HUGE KC Chiefs fan…like
seriously…I am a big fan.Once when I
was a kid, I had this big idea that I could be a kid journalist.Since I am a first born, “anything is
possible” kind of person, I decided that I would start by writing a “Neighborhood
News” weekly newspaper for my neighborhood.(God bless them for actually acting like they were interested.)Anyway, so once a week I would make up this
cool little construction paper newspaper, write up some “news” articles, roll
them up, tie them with a string, and go throw them onto the front porches of
all my neighbors.All sounds super cute,
right?Only problem was the only thing I
ever wrote about in this weekly newspaper was the KC Chiefs.Seriously.True story.I am sure my
neighbors loved me.

I tell this
little anecdote to show you that my love for football and for the KC Chiefs has
been an almost life-long love.My kids and I have all kinds of Chiefs
gear.I follow news in the off season,
watch the draft online, start counting down the days in July, get giddy excited
in August during pre-season, and talk about nothing else with my fellow
football fans throughout the months of September through January.I am the real deal fan.

So tonight
when we lost, after having a 28 point lead at one point in the game and thus
continuing our 20 yearlong streak of postseason losses, I was so upset.The truth is I actually cried…like real,
running down your face, all blotchy, tears.It wasn’t pretty.Then I got on
Facebook and ranted about it with all my other KC Chiefs loving friends.Finally, I decided I couldn’t handle anymore
and I took a shower.

But
something happened while I was in there.

As I was lathering
up, something more than soap and water started to wash over me.The
Lord really started to break my heart.I
didn’t feel like He was convicting me about my crazy passion for football or
even about the fact that it is really all quite superficial.He was calling to my attention my tears…tears
over a silly football game.

It was like
He was asking me this:

“What about
those babies and children that are going to bed tonight without food in their
bellies because their family can’t afford milk and food?”

“Sara, are
you weeping for them?”

“What about
those kids suffering from preventable diseases and are slowing dying in beds
and on dirt floors simply because there aren’t doctors and medicines available
to treat them…”

“Are you
weeping for them?”

“What about
the young girls being passed between hundreds of men a day as sex slaves with
no way out...”

“Are you
weeping for them?”

“What about
the little boy wetting his bed at night due to the fear of his father coming in
and taking advantage of him while his mother sleeps…”

“Are you
weeping for him?”

“What about
the teenager who is considering taking his/her life because of the constant
bullying he/she faces every day at school because of his beliefs, gender, race,
sexual orientation, family, etc…”

“Are you
weeping for him?”

“What about
the hundreds of unborn babies being killed every single day all over the world...”

“Are you
weeping for them?”

“What about
the single mothers and fathers working 70 hours a week just to try and give their
child a fighting chance in this world but yet never actually get to sit down
for a family meal…”

“Are you
weeping for them?”

“And what
about the hundreds of thousands of people that are dying every single day
without ever knowing the HOPE, JOY, and LOVE of an everlasting relationship
with ME, Jesus Christ…”

“Sara, ARE
YOU WEEPING FOR THEM?”

“ARE YOU
WEEPING FOR THEM??”

Well, the
truth is, I wasn’t weeping for them.But I
am now.I am heartbroken.When did I start caring more about the guys
getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to play some game then I do for “the
least of these” right outside my door who are truly suffering?

How did I let this happen?Yes, I can cheer on my favorite team.I can deck myself and my kids out in red and
yellow.I can pace around like a crazy
lady and yell at my TV over a lousy play.I can do all of those things.But, I also better be on my knees at night crying out to God on behalf
of those that don’t even have the strength to hope anymore.I better be teaching my kids how to love…really
love their neighbor and to be generous with their time, money, and
friendship.I better be doing something…anything…because
that football game is just that…a game.

Real life
stuff is happening out there, folks.We
can’t fix it all.We can’t change it
all.We can’t save them all.But, we can do something.

We can be real
life game-changers…

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because
the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me BIND UP
the brokenhearted, to proclaim LIBERTY to the captives, and the OPENING OF THE
PRISON to those who are bound, to PROCLAIM the year of the LORD’S FAVOR; and
the day of vengeance of our God; to COMFORT all who mourn…”

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Some bits and bobbits about this blog...

This blog is mostly just ramblings by yours truly. I talk about my ups and downs being a wife, mother, and missionary in Guatemala. I have a tendency to get off on "soapboxes" as those who love me say but it is my desire that this blog can be a place of encouragement in each of your pilgrimages with Christ. At any moment if this blog becomes more about me than about Christ, than it will be done and over...so please help me stay accountable. To God be all the Glory, Honor, and Power!